Mary's Buckaroo, a George nominee, came flying through the stretch under Mario Verge and barely missed after running poorly in his previous two outings.

Long shot Cat Be Nimble held on for third.

Jockey Edgar Prado, who gained his fourth victory on the card, said Foxie G "is in very good shape right now and he's pretty easy to ride. You can put him anywhere."

Trainer Mary Joanne Hughes said she is "thinking about" the General George for Mary's Buckaroo, and jockey Joe Rocco said he thought Cat Be Nimble "will do OK" in that seven-furlong race.

Rider Mario Pino was not as confident about Higher Strata, who set the early fractions, then wilted to finish sixth.

"That might be too long," said Pino.

Timonium winter sale

The dam of Preakness runner-up Oliver's Twist, Heartful Star, brought the top price of $40,000 during Fasig-Tipton's Mid-Atlantic winter mixed sale at Timonium on Sunday.

She was purchased by Tyson Gilpin, a bloodstock agent from Virginia.

"The sale went very well," said auctioneer Mason Grasty. "The average [$4,790 sale price] was down a little, but the difference is that we had a $100,000 yearling last year."

Seven other horses in the total lot of 246 were sold for at least $10,000.

Miscellaneous

Laurel will shift to a 12:35 p.m. post time for live racing beginning Thursday. The new time will remain in effect until further notice. . . . The $200,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap, the top female race of the winter meeting, on Feb. 17, drew 27 nominations, including Orioles owner Peter Angelos' Cormorant's Flight, winner of two straight stakes.